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Luther halted, whipping around to face me. “You were never just a plain mortal girl,” he snapped, his temper cracking. “And may I remind you, you weren’t sure he would still want you.”
“That if a man made you doubt whether his love for you would survive anything, he does not deserve you.”
With a brief look at me that was loaded with warning, Luther was gone, and I was alone with Remis Corbois, Regent of Lumnos.
“Then it’s your job to convince them House Corbois will stand by its Queen—no matter what.”
He had a way of anticipating the things I didn’t know and slipping the answers to me in a way that never made me feel ignorant or ashamed.
And no matter what fondness might be growing between us, he was not part of my long-term plans.
“Under a bonded bargain, if a party breaks an agreement, they lose their magic until they follow through on the terms. If they cannot, their magic is gone forever. The bargains are sealed using the Forging magic that created the nine realms, so even a Crown can’t escape the consequences.”
His dark blue eyes darted over my face and body, taking in the signs of my rage, and I was immediately aware of how fully I had shown my hand.
Shit
Tell them as little as possible. About yourself, your plans, your magic.
Her golden eyes shot to the dazzling Crown above my head, as if saying Good luck with that.
Euphoric laughter bubbled up from my chest. A burst of Sorae’s pride shot across the bond at the sound of my delight.
She was playing, showing me her world for one precious moment where her gilded chains felt as temporarily invisible as my own.
This incredible creature was claiming me as her Queen, offering a fierce vote of confidence when I needed it most—as well as a deadly warning to anyone who might plan to do me harm.
It felt as if something in him had hooked itself on something in me.
The intimate contact took us both by surprise, at least if his sharp inhale was any indication.
“You’re doing great,” he murmured, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
I started to leave. Luther’s hand snaked around my hip, holding me in place.
A half-smile broke through Luther’s facade, and Taran roared with laughter.
“This was a bad idea,” Luther muttered. “You two becoming friends is my worst nightmare.”
“We wear red to honor our Kindred blood, and we wear something that reflects light to represent the glow of the afterlife where souls rest if they are found worthy. Wearing black, it... it...” “It will be seen as disrespectful to the Kindred and a suggestion that you believe the King’s soul will be found unworthy,” Luther finished for her. His tone had gone cold, and he glowered at Eleanor with reproach.
“What about me?” Taran said, pouting. “I could advise on... I don’t know, something.” “Drinking,” Aemonn drawled. “Sleeping around. Being useless.”
Taran chuckled. “Long live the Queen.”
“Her Depressing Majesty, Queen Die-em the Royal Undertaker”
but it was a kindness I wouldn’t soon forget.
You belong on that throne.”
While I was still miffed at his scolding of Eleanor, I had to admit the gruff, overprotective champion act was a little sweet.
I keep my promises, my Queen. Whatever the cost.
“But he never fell in love with anyone else?” “He was mated,” she said again, giving me a strange look.
“A mate is so much more. A mating bond can only be made by love—true love.”
“Any two Descended can attempt the mating ritual, but the bonding magic will only work if your love is genuine and unconditional, and if you freely commit to stand by your mate forever, in life and in death. Once you’re mated, your heart is bound to your mate for eternity. You can never love anyone else.”
“Never. It’s a legacy of the Kindred’s choice to give up their immortality for their mortal lovers.”
“To be connected so deeply to the one you love, even beyond death... it’s the greatest joy anyone can experience.”
“Something I cannot have.”
Luther’s fingers tightened around my thigh.
As he did, he brushed the hair away from my shoulder and stroked a thumb along my neck, the gesture so brief it might have been accidental.
I had seen in my patients how the wounds of abuse could linger on a soul long after the violence itself had ended.
“Unleash, my Queen. Show this world what it means to Challenge Diem Bellator.”
But this had broken him. I had broken him.
“It’s true,” he whispered. “You really are the new Queen.”
The thick presence of his aura seemed to curl around me, brushing my skin. “You’re safe with me, too.”
But this was no reassuring caress. This was Luther laying his claim on what I hadn’t dared to reveal. Asking for what I hadn’t yet offered. What do you want, Luther? Something I cannot have.
But my body wouldn’t obey. My heart wouldn’t, either.
It felt so natural to be held by him like this. So right in a way that didn’t make sense.
“Because I’m fun. Hey Diem, is Luther in there? Are you two doing something naughty?”
I threw caution to the wind and leaned up on my toes to press a kiss to his cheek, just above his jawline, letting my lips linger on the rough skin of his scar for longer than I should have. I heard his sharp breath in my ear and felt his hand press again to the bare skin low on my back.
his face so ruggedly handsome I could barely breathe.
His hand curled into a fist, tugging at my hair—gently, but enough to pull a gasp from my lips and an arch from my back. He leaned into my ear. “If a kiss is the reward, my Queen, I’ll get on my knees for you whenever you want.”
Jesus lord Murphy 🥵🥵
She was sexy, she was confident in her own skin. She cared nothing of the judgments of others, and she wore the Crown as if it had always been hers to wield.
A little too good, sometimes. I could play her for one night.
I was the Queen, and I wore the Crown of Lumnos on my head.
